Expert: Michael FitzGerald - 12/11/2008

Question
I am an American. What is the British slang word "Daft" mean? Also what does the word "Ruddy" as in "Ruddy Beggers"? I heard it on television on an old English movie. Does ruddy mean old? or dirty? or disliked?

Answer
Hi Larry

Thanks for your interesting question.

The word 'daft' means, depending on the context and the strength of expression, 'silly,' 'stupid,' 'crazy' or even 'retarded.' It is generally used in a relatively affectionate manner (as in 'don't be so daft') but can be used to imply that the person referred to does not know what they are talking about. There is also the expression 'daft as a brush,' which means a very silly person or else a very stupid piece of behaviour.

Ruddy literally means reddish coloured but it is actually a euphemism for a mild obscenity, 'bloody,' in the same way that 'heck' is used for 'hell,' or 'darn' for 'damn.'  

'You ruddy nuisance!' or 'Ruddy hell!' is actually a euphemistic way of saying 'you bloody nuisance!' or 'bloody hell!'

The word 'beggars' is also often used as a euphemism for another obscenity, the word 'bugger.' This is used either in a sexual context, to refer to sexual acts between gay men or else to the act of anal intercourse, or it can be used as a more general insult or even an expression of annoyance (such as 'bugger it!)

You would use ruddy in the same context that you would say bloody but it is of course a mild euphemism for the obscenity.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask me if you require any further clarification.

Kind regards

Mike

'You silly beggar!' is actually a milder way of saying 'you silly bugger!'